20 CAR § 43-131 – Specialized services — Critical care

(a) A critical care unit is a section of the hospital where intensive care nursing, necessary monitoring and treatment equipment, and supplies are provided to those patients who, in the opinion of the attending physician, require such specialized services.
(b) Staffing.
1. (1) Critical care units shall be staffed with a registered nurse each shift.
2. (2)
  1. (A) All critical care nursing staff shall:
(i) Be oriented and trained in life support measures and interpretation of dysrhythmias; and
1. (ii) Demonstrate competency in critical care nursing specific to patient types.
  1. (B) Competency in the specific areas shall be maintained.
    1. (c) Policies and procedures. Procedures shall include:
2. (1) Admission and continuing stay criteria;
3. (2) Discharge criteria;
4. (3) Triage/transfer;
5. (4) Use of protocols; and
6. (5) Definition of the clinical scope of the hospital's critical care service.
  1. (d) Equipment. Equipment shall include:
7. (1) Suction;
8. (2) Diagnostic monitoring equipment to include electrocardiographic monitoring;
9. (3) Crash cart containing emergency medications and supplies;
10. (4) Defibrillator;
11. (5) Wall clock;
12. (6) Accommodations to maintain privacy; and
13. (7) Weighing device for bed patients.
(e) Isolation. An isolation room shall be available for the treatment of potentially infectious or immune-suppressed critical care patients.
(f) Pediatric critical care. If the facility offers critical care for the pediatric patient there shall be:
1. (1) Policies, procedures, and equipment specific to the needs of pediatric patients; and
2. (2) Nursing staff oriented and trained in life support measures, interpretation of dysrhythmias, and competency in critical care nursing specific to the pediatric patient.